After Health Care Ruling, TX Has Big Decisions to Make
In the wake of Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding federal health reform, Texas has two big choices to make: whether to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid, and whether to roll out a consumer marketplace for comparing and purchasing insurance coverage.
While the Supreme Court found the Affordable Care Act's expansion of Medicaid constitutional, it held that states can't be penalized by the federal government if they choose not to accept federal funding and do it. Republican Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who sued the federal government over "Obamacare" on Texas' behalf, said it's ...
Comments (7)
Rudy Gonzales
All the top dogs of the fringe TEA-Republican's running Texas into the ground, will group together and begin conniving on how to move monies around after they connive on how to change monies already received and moved to other than programs they were supposed to be for. Or something like that.
Alice Taylor
I have absolutely no faith that Rick Perry and his cronies will do the right thing and institute a program that will benefit poor Texans, not unless there is something in it for them. No faith at all.
Drew Smith
I am a small business owner. Small business owner are a solid GOP voting block. Small business owners have to buy insurance on the open market. Small business owners would benefit from centralized insurance marketplace. The state legislature seems opposed to setting up an insurance market place. How many times can you slap small business before we notice?
Gary Joslin via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Except that Texas is not *required* to create an exchange and there are sound reasons why we shouldn't.
Hannah Katz
I just hope Texas will not take a draconian approach to those of us who like to use the social safety net as a hammock. I find using the local emergency room as my primary care physician to be a very positive experience. Let the rich pay for it.
gypsy314 ne
Well Americans Obama and democrats said this is not a tax they lied Americans can not afford new tax this size we all have a chance to correct what Obama and democrats have tax us all we must throw the democrats and Obama out of office to save our country from the largest tax hike in history. Obama and democrats are on record saying this is not a tax. Americans must not fail all democrat must go.
David Spratt
Without the Medicaid expansion, many will remain uninsured, shifting costs to the insured and increasing uncompensated care to health care providers,” he said.
Correct me if I am wrong ,, but who exactly pays for those with no money,, that refuse to work,, or refuse to buy insurance now,,, but people that work,,, have money,,,, and buy insurance.. If you think insurance costs are high now,,,, wait until it is totally free!!!! Yes it was a great day for the American taxpayer. The Supremes confirmed what many of us knew all along,,,, this is the greatest tax increase on American Citizens in the entire history of this country. Look at the penalty. Even though by most peoples standards it is a lot of money,,, it does not even come close to paying the cost of an insurance policy.
Drew Smith,,, you will be much better off cancelling your insurance policies and paying the penalties and shuffling your employees into the government program. The states have to bear ever increasing %'s of the added folks on the medicaid roles as the years progress. This is reason enough not to create the exchanges.
Name me one government agency that is not rife with fraud, abuse, and waste. Everything the government touches turns to crap,, healthcare will be no different. If our healthcare system is so bad , why do people come here for treatment from every single country in the world every chance they get? Congratulations to the Americans who voted for these clowns , you now get to pay a new and very costly tax , and guess who will collect it if you balk,,, THE IRS. yes the enforcement arm for this " free Healthcare" is none other than the INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. What do you think will happen if you decide this was not such a good idea and refuse to pay?